The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-03-05
MONTANA WOMEN.



How They Acquire Landed Estates and
Mansgs Their Business Affairs.
In all political canvasses out this
way, when estimating the number OF
votes which may be counted upon at
the polls, the votes Of women are noted.
recognized and sought in every way,
says Fort Keogh correspondent. The
poll-tax which every voter between
twenty-one and fifty is obliged to pay,
whether male or female, is specially for
school purposes. As one of the girls
puts it: ''One of the principles for
which the Revolutionary war was fought
was that taxation should have repre-
sentation; and the justice of the prin-
ciple is as unquestioned to-day as 1t was
one hundred years ago."
As farmers the ladies are also entitled
to the cake. Woman has been typified
as tender vine clinging to the sturdy
oak, which is supposed to be emblem
attic of a strong man. Out here in the
free Northwest it is quite the reverse,
and every day one can see or hear OF
examples where the gentler sex prove .
supporting oak to the weak tendril, man.
A well-known married woman, little
west of here, whose husband has been
absent nine months ont of the twelve
looking after horses aud rounding-up
cattle, during the past spring and sum-
mer did all alone and unaided her own
blowing. When plowing-time came
this enterprising mother constructed a
box on the pillow on which to carry her
baby, and thus she plowed the burrows.
She then proceeded to harrow. plant
and cultivate, and in this way produced
q fine crop, which she harvested and
packed away by the time the old man
came home. This is only one example
out of hundred. Some of the girls in
Dakota and Montana have taken to
editing newspapers. As rule, the
papers edited by the territorial girls are
credit to journalism. Miss M. S.
Mills has, besides getting out on time
the weekly edition of the Hawley Star,
proved up presumption. planted five
acres on tree claim, built a saw-mill,
and raised the largest cabbage in the
country.
The solution of the woman problem
seems to be that q woman may do
whatever she can. Girls on the prai-
ries of Dakota and Montana are now
living alone; in isolated cabins, miles
from humanity. and yet they are safer
in all respects than in large Eastern
cities These plucky homesteaders
spend whole summers alone on their
claims. and neither fear, nor have
cause to fear, the least intrusion. Such
absolute freedom from all restraint is
rarely enjoyed by anybody; but here it
is fact and no mistake. True. it is
little lonesome at times, but then
when the girls are in pairs one can
ride. walk, run. saunter, wear old
clothes, a sun-bonnet or hat. can sing,
shout, carol, trill, chant in seven oc-
taves. and nobody to complain about
it. They are free and light-hearted. of
course, and the very picture of rosy
health. Most all of them can shoot,
and when they do. if necessary, they
shoot to kill.
Recently Mr.. and Mrs. Evans were
out to their stock ranch, near the mouth
of Belt creek, to look after their cattle.
They were ON horseback, and after
gathering the animals together and
counting them found that dozen or so
were missing. Mr.. Evans then started
across Belt creek, where he had seen a
number of head the day before, in
structing Mrs. Evans to 60 back about
q mile and take trail up to the ranch,
on the lookout for any missing cattle,
deciding on place where they would
meet. She had not proceeded far,
however. when she saw in a little
basin before her three of their calves
and two enormous gray wolves with
them, the latter engaged in the pleasant
pastime of eating the calves alive. On
the impulse Of the moment, never
thinking of danger, Mrs. Evans lashed
up the pony and was soon in the midst
of the wolves and their prey. Then
she industriously laid about her with
her riding-whip, driving the wolves
back, although they were snarling mad
and exceedingly savage about leaving.
The wolves made dash at her, where
upon the pony SHE'D and nearly un-
seated the fair equestrian, but she
quickly recovered her balance, and
dashed back at the brutes with such
energy and determination that they
fed from the field and left the brave
woman in absolute possession. Two of
the calves died from their injuries that
night, and the other one was literally
torn to pieces. When it is considered
that hunters and cowboys, we'll armed,
sometimes hesitate to attack the Zero
cious gray wolf on the prairie. it is all
the more astonishing to think that one
woman, alone and unarmed, would
dare to attack and do up two such
monsters in such . brilliant style as
Mrs Evans handled her brace Of gray
customers. = Philadelphia Press.
Mexican Silver Deposits.